Train operators face a curb on ticket office closures amid complaints from passengers that they could be left with ghost stations.

Lord Adonis, transport minister, has stepped in to prevent what he described as "unacceptable cuts" in opening hours.

His intervention has come amid passenger fears that many operators will try to save money by getting rid of staff and reducing ticket office opening hours.

Passengers rely on station staff to ensure waiting rooms are open, security is provided as well as accessibility for the disabled.

They also need them for journey advice and even help negotiating the complex ticketing system.

Having blocked closures by South West Trains earlier in the year, Lord Adonis has made clear to the industry that ticket offices should stay open if they handle 12 transactions an hour.

He has established this as an "industry benchmark" amid fears that the economic slowdown could see more closures as operators try to cut costs.

Two other companies, Northern and National Express East Coast, have been told the Government will reject any plans to shut down any ticket offices at busy times.

As the recession bites others are expected to follow suit.

"Train companies can't get away with blanket closures as passengers tell us they need staff for security, journey advice and ticket sales," said Anthony Smith, chief executive of the consumer watchdog, Passenger Focus.

Feelings have been running high on the issue with rail unions joining consumers in opposing the cuts.

South West Trains triggered a wave of protests when it announced plans to cut back on opening hours at 114 ticket offices on its network running into London from Surrey, Hampshire and the London suburbs.

The changes, which prompted thousands of passengers to back a postcard campaign opposing the closures, would have seen many ticket offices shut at weekends.

"It is not enough for train operators to expect passengers to rely on vending machines," Lord Adonis, a transport minister, told the Daily Telegraph.

"We have given them notice that we will be curbing ticket office closures. I know other operators have been looking at them."

Ministers accept that where stations are lightly used that companies should be spared the expensive burden of staffing them to serve only a handful of customers.

But they want a balance to be struck with the need to provide a proper service for the travelling public.

The move was welcomed by Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the Transport and Salaried Staffs Association rail union.

"This was all about the private rail companies forcing passengers to buy more expensive tickets through through their complicated ticket machines," he said.

"By restricting the number of tickets in machines, particularly those cheaper tickets bought on rail cards, they ensured that unsuspecting passengers had to pay through the nose rather than being advised by booking office staff on the cheaper options that are available."